The Tareqat Naqsabandiyah Al Kholidiyah Al Jalaliyah sect of Islam will start fasting on Saturday.

Naqsabandiyah secretary Muhammad Yusuf Hamdani said on Friday that they would start their Ramadan evening prayers Friday night before starting the fasting month Saturday. Tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers) took place in several areas in Indonesia, including in the sect's headquarters on Jl. Kongsi Marendal, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra.

Naqsabandiyah followers determined the start of Ramadan using hisab (astronomical calculations) based on the Islamic lunar calendar. "We have set the beginning of the fast tomorrow [Saturday] and the decision is based on the ritual that we have been doing," Yusuf said.

Apart from the headquarters, tarawih also took place in the Foundation Islamic Boarding School Dr. Syekh Salman Daim in Bandar Tinggi, Simalungun and in Mariendal, Deli Serdang.

The sect has between 5,000 and 10,000 people in North Sumatra alone.

The Religious Affairs Ministry has yet to decide the start of Ramadan but will hold an isbat (confirmation) meeting on May 5. The ministry's director of sharia coaching and Islamic teaching Muhammadiyah Amin said the isbat meeting was to determine the months of the Qamariah [Islamic calendar], especially Ramadhan, Syawal and Dzulhijjah.

Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization has announced that Ramadan would start on May 6.

Popular

Great Barrier Reef hit by record bleaching

Govt to undo latest curbs on personal imports

Middle East on edge as Israel and Iran trade threats